Russian, European Forum to focus on investments in Russia

MILAN, November 27. /TASS/. Investments in Russia in the present-day geopolitical conditions and IPO on the Russian market will be in the focus of the 4th Russian-European Economic Forum to open in Milan on Thursday.

Discussions will be devoted to “the tendencies and prospects for the development of Russian-European relations within new economic and political realities”, the organising committee told TASS.

An analytical report will be given by one of the most authoritative higher education institutions in Europe, Bocconi University. Deputies of the Russian State Duma (lower house), the Italian parliament, heads of leading EU enterprises, local experts are expected to take the floor at the forum.

The participants in the conference will be also presented concrete figures why Russian securities and investments in Russia can be now interesting, chairman of the board of Concern General Invest (Italy) Andrei Nikityuk said.

“We’re working with Russia and we know what Russian enterprises are. We’re investing in them, in small-and medium-size business that is why we understand the existing difficulties. But we understand what advantages Russia is giving at the moment. We’re telling what the government is doing and how it is protecting the capital that is invested in Russia,” he said.

If the sanctions imposed by several countries against Russia are not directly discussed, in any case this question will be raised on the sidelines, Nikityuk said.

At the same time, he said, “The interest in Russia keeps growing despite the sanctions.”

No one has refused to take part in the conference because of the restrictions towards Russia, Nikityuk said.

He does not doubt that new contracts will be signed and that new investors will emerge. Among attractive spheres for European business Nikityuk named the road construction and retail.

In addition to General Invest, Bocconi University and the Moscow Exchange are co-organisers of the forum.